Polk RT55i vs KEF q1 vs Energy Connoisseur C-3

Schris22

Hey guys,

Looking for some bookshelf speakers and the other thread is in the flea market so just wanted to start over here.

I know this on a polk forum so of course the polk product will most likely get the most votes and recommendations, but if anyone has heard the two please provide comments.

The Rt55i looks like a great speaker but is hard to get a hold of. Is there is a BIG difference in the Rt55i vs Rt55 (non i). There is a Rt55 regular on ebay...

The KEF Q1 is praised all over the UK, but seem lesser known in America.

The Energy Connoisseur C-3 seems like a great deal at audio Advisor for 300.

They are all roughly the same price so hopefully someone has some experience with the KEF and Energy.

Thanks,

Chris

Danny Tse

I currently use a pair of Energy C-3s as my front L/R speakers. At $300.00/pair, which was also how much I paid for my pair at The Good Guys, the C-3 is a steal. It has very good bass response for a relatively compact speaker and it's very smooth sounding as well, especially when the speakers are broken-in. However, the speaker does dip down to 4 ohms on certain frequencies but otherwise it's a relatively efficient speaker. Excellent workmanship and great customer service from Energy. BTW, matching stands are $75.00/pair at AA as well. The Connoisseur series will continue despite the introduction of the new Reference Connoisseur series, so if you ever need a center-channel speaker, it can still be obtained.

I heard the KEF Q1s at a store where it was paired up with a Marantz stereo integrated amp. The coax driver is really something special in terms of imaging. However, I found the overall sound to be relatively lightweight....although it's still a great speaker. Again, the styling and workmanship are excellent as well. The current Q-series is being discontinued for a new Q-series and the drivers are slightly different....like the Polk RT and the RTi series. If you are looking to go surround, you may want to take that into consideration.

setzer808

I only have tangible experience with the 55i's out of the list you mentioned. I have heard that the difference between the 55's and the 55i's isn't huge, I would assume you would be fine either way.

Since I'm unfamiliar with the other models you spoke of I'll try to just give a fair review of the 55i's:

I easily drive them with a 70wpc receiver and often use them sans-sub for many types of music. They are capable of great quality bass that impresses me more than the bass of many entry-mid price towers.

Their midrange is very full and easily conveys strings/piano/voices. The tweeter is capable of covering the upper-spectrum without sounding strained and even with my older Yamaha amp (an old superstition about old yamaha recievers and RTI speakers resultsing in "sharp" or "bright" sound) I notice no unpleasant sharpness or ringing.

In short they are one of the few bookshelves that I would say is capable of being a perfectly suitable Home Theater Left/Right/Surround in use with a sub, or even alone without needing any more bass reinforcement for great Stereo reproduction. I consider them to be a tower packed into a bookshelf. Hope this helps.

Schris22

thanks for the review.

My very good dealer friend doesn't like energy. I'll keep them for my 30 day and break them in. He recommended monitor audio silver and there are some on audiogon even the bronze isn't suppose to be bad.


Thanks,

Chris

Danny Tse

To my ears, the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has more details in the midrange than the Energy C-3, but the C-3 excels at the overall sound.

Schris22

man danny,

you've really been listening to a bunch of speakers. Any you would recommend?

Chris